Forgive Haiti's debt

January 23, 2010

As residents of South Florida, we are well aware that even before the earthquake hit, Haiti faced tremendous challenges. I grieve for the people in Haiti, residents of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, who are now faced with the overwhelming task of mourning for their loved ones as they rebuild their homes with very limited resources.

We need to make sure that this devastated nation has every available chance to recover and secure a better future. To help Haiti not only in the short term, but in the long term, the world should forgive Haiti's international debt, which totals $890 million. The United States has already forgiven the debt Haiti owes us directly. But institutions that the United States has major influence with, like the International Monetary Fund, still have not forgiven Haiti's debt. It's time they do so. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has the power to convince these institutions to do the right thing.

As one member, as a South Florida resident and close neighbor of this struggling country, and as a caring and concerned human being, I ask that Secretary Geithner use his influence to persuade international lending institutions and countries to drop Haiti's debt once and for all.